Electric time-switch.



G. M. BACON.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH. APPLICATION HLED NOV. 28. 916.

1,224,887.' Patented May8,1917.

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UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. BACON, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

ELECTRIC TIME-SWITCH.

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. BACON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Time-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to electric circuit control devices and more particularly. to controlling mechanisms associated with switches of the make and break type.

The principal object of my invention is to provide mechanism of the character described through which a switch may be manually actuated to make a circuit and automatically actuated to break the circuit after a predetermined interval of time has .elapsed, the invention being well adapted for use in lighting systems where a lamp is or lamps are required in circuit for a short period only, as in cellars, store rooms, commercial refrigerators, toilets, vaults, or other places, where an ordinary snap switch now in common use is undesirable in itself,

in that frequent failure to manually actuate the switch to break the circuit, results in waste of electric energy and is detrimental in refrigerators, where heat would be continuously generated 'for a considerable length of time.

Other objects of my invention are to provide mechanism of the character described which is simple in construction, compact, neat in appearance, and may be applied to existing snap switches or embodied with mechanism of a similar character to pro vide a unit circuit control device.

Further objects of my invention .will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a view partly in central verti cal section and partly in elevation through mechanism constructed according to' my invention, and shown in operative relation with a snap switch of the type now in commonuse.

50, Fig. 2 is a view on substantially the line In the drawing, where similar characters 5 refer to similar parts throughout the views,

A designates make and break mechanism in- Specification of I.etters Patent.

Patented Mays, 1917.

Application filed November 28, 1916. Serial No. 133,953.

ed to be connected with conductors, such as wires, of a lighting or other electrical system, and C a rotatable bridge adapted to be brought into engagement with members B to complete a circuit, or swing out of engagement therewith to break a circuit in the well known manner; and D control mechanism comprising a knob E, a rotatable coupling F operatively connected with bridge C to rotate the same, G mechanism for imparting movement of knob E to coupling F in a predetermined direction, H time control mechanism for rotating said, coupling F in the same direction; and J a device for preventing rotation of the said knob E in one direction.

Referring first to the make and break mechanism A, in addition to the spaced stationary members B, and bridge C, it comprises the screw-threaded stem 5 as is now common practice, and these elements are supported by a base 6, of insulation, this base being provided with an annular flange 7 at its one face, the members B being mounted on the face of said flange in the well known manner. In the example shown,

this mechanism is of the type now in common use, by which frictional turns of the stem 5 alternately make and break the circuit through the bridgeC.

Referring now to the controlling mechanism D, while I have herein shown the knob E for manually actuatingsome of the parts, it is to be understood that any suitable device may be substituted therefor, such as a lever or crank, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The knob E comprises a main body portion 8 of insulation and in which is embedded an internally screw-threaded socket 9, the bore of which is adapted to receive the stem 5 if desired, should it be deemed desirable at any time to make and break the circuit manually by successive intermittent fractional turns imparted to the knob.

The rotatable coupling F may comprise a cylindrical member or spindle 10 revolubly carried by support 11 and provided with an axial way 12'; and, a head 12 provided with an axial screw-threaded bore 13 adapted to be turned 11 on the stem f mechanism A, said head being preferably polygonal in cross section and fitting into the way 12' of cylindrical member 10, with surface contact. When disposing the mechanism G in ed to enter the bore of socket 9; and, a

device 17, such as a pawl 18 pivotally carried by member 14, as through pin 19, and a spring 20 acting upon pawl 18and sup ported by member 14 as by stem 21, the pawl being preferably secured to the under side of a flange 22, rigid 'w'ith inember 14. The

pawl 18 is adapted to act upon ratchet teeth I 23 disposed about the circumference of cylindrical member 10, at its upper end portion and against which the flange'22 may abut. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the member 14 extends into a cylindrical portion 24 of way 12. The motion transmitting member 14 when axially alined with cylindrical member 10 may steady the same and, by manually rotating the knob E, clockwise'in the example shown, its more ment will be imparted successively through the motion transmitting member 14, pawl 18, cylindrical member 10, head 12, and stem 5, to the bridge C.

Concernin H, it comprises a gear 25 rotatable about cylindrical member 10, escapement mecha nism 26 carried by supports 11 and 15; a train of gears 27 in operative relation to the escapement mechanism 26 and in meshing relation with gear 25; a spring 28, preferably in the form of a coil, dis osed about cylindrical member 10 and having its one end portion coupled to gear 25, as at 29, and its other end portion movable with motion transmitting member 14, as by being secured I to flange 22, as at 30, in a manner-to impel said gear to rotate in the same direction,

when said cylindrical member 10 is moved by mechanism G; and, a device 31, such as a pawl 32, carried by gears 25, as by pin 33, and a spring 34 acting upon said pawl, and carried by gear 25, as through pin 35, said pawl acting upona'set of ratchet teeth 36 provided circumferentially of member 10, the function of the, device 31 bein for the purpose of imparting movement 0 gear 25 to the cylindrical member 10, as hereinafter set forth.

The device J may also consist of a' pawl 36 carried by support 15 as by pin 37,and

coupling F'and device J may be housed,

the time control mechanism 3 within a casing 41 similar to that used in protecting the working parts of a snap switch, and the lower part of casing 41 may serve this purpose also. The supports 11 and 15 may be held in spaced relation as by a rod 42, the support 15 engaging an annuto envelop the working parts of mecha nism A. 1 V

In the example shown, the train of gears 27 comprises a pinion 50 rigid with spindle 51 and to which spindle a gear 52 is secured; a pinion 53 rigid with a spindle 54, said pinion co-meshing with gear 52, a third car 55 being rigid with spindle 54; and, a pinion 56 rigid with spindle 57, the spindles 51, 54, and 57 being carried by'supports 11 and 15. The escapement mechanism 26 may be of any suitable type, and in the example shown, comprises a balance wheel 58; escapement 59, coiiperating therewith; and, an escapement wheel 60 rigid with spindle 57, the pallets 61 of the escapement working alternately with the teeth of the escapement wheel 60.

The operation of the electric timeswitch is as follows:

Assuming that the mechanism E is to be applied to an existing snap switch, the knob of such switch may be used, first removing the knob. from operative relation to the stem 5 which permits of removal of the .usual casing envelopin the working parts he head 12 1s then turned upon stem 5 and the mechanisms carried by casing 41disposed in operative relaof the snap switch.

tion to the snap switch as by passing the head 12 into the'way' of member 10, the insulation 45, when such is provided, comin in frictional engagement with the flange of base 6. When disposing the casing 41 into operative relation to the mechanism A, the bridge C should not .be in enga ement with members B, or in other words t e circuit should be broken. By turnin the knob E upon stem 16, the switch is rea' y for use.

In "the example shown, by imparting movement to knob E in a clockwise direction, motion will be transmitted successively through mechanism G and coupling F to the brid e C of mechanism A to complete the circuit; The device -J prevents contracloc-kwise movement of knob E. Simultaneously with this, the spring 28 is drawn about cylindrical member 10 which impels Y the gear 25 to move clockwise. Quickmovement of this gear wheel is, however, resisted by the train of gears 27 and escapement mechanism 26, hence it is permitted to move slowly responsive to the spring action. In its movement it carries with it, the cylindrical member 10 which in turn ultimately brings bridge C out of engagement with members B and breaks the circuit. The switch is then in readiness for another phase of movement of its various mechanisms.

While I have herein described the controlling mechanism as detachably connected with the make and break mechanism, it is to be understood that switches may be constructed in which such parts are as a unit. Much stress is laid upon the arrangement whereby the stem 5, coupling F, motion transmitting member 14, and knob E are co-axial, rendering the switch compact, and

neat in appearance in that it is symmetrical in appearance at the exterior of the easing 41;

Changes in details -may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention; but, a

I claim 1. The combination with a snap switch having the usual detachable casing andturning button,

of time-controlled means 1ncluding a housing adapted to be substituted for said casing, an operating spindle adapted to be substituted on the snap switch for said turning button to hold the housing over said switch and operate the same, a setting stem projecting beyond the housing to receive said turning button thereon, and a one-way connection between the setting stem and the spindle to turn the latter and the snap switch upon the rotation. of the button in one direction.

2. Controlling mechanism for electric switches comprising in combination, a revoluble cylindrical member provided with an axial way, a rotatable knob, mechanism for imparting movement of said knob in one di-' rection to said cylindrical member, a device for limiting rotation of said cylindrical member in the said direction only, a Wheel rotatable about said cylindrical member, a coil spring about said cylindrical member with one end portion coupled to said wheel and its other end portion movable'with said mechanism to impel said wheel to' rotate in the same direction-as said cylindrical mem-' ber is moved by said mechanism, a-device for imparting movement of said wheel in the said direction to said cylindrical member, and mechanism for resisting quick movement of said wheel, and a 'sna switchengaging headfitting in the way 0 said cylindrical member.

3. In controlling mechanism for electric switches of the character described, the combination of a revoluble cylindrical member adapted for connection with the switch and provided with circumferentially disposed ratchet teeth, a knob, a motion transmitting member co-axial with said cylindrical member and operatively connected with said knob to be rotated by its movement in a predetermined direction, a pawl carried by said motion transmitting member and cooperating with the teeth of said cylindrical member to rotate the same in the said direction only, a device resisting rotation of saidmotion transmitting member in a direction'counter to said predetermined direction, a gear rotatable about said cylindrical member, a coil spring about said cylindrical member with itsone end portion coupled to said gear and its other end portion movable with said motion transmitting member to vsaid gear to resist quick movement of the.

latter.

4:. In ;control mechanism for electric switches of the character described, the combination of a revoluble cylindrical member adapted for connection with the switch and provided with circumferentially disposed ratchet teeth,- a knob, a motion transmitting 1 member co-axial with said cylindrical member and operatively connected with said knob to be rotated by its movement in a predetermined direction, a pawl carried by said j motion transmitting member and cooperating with the teeth of said cylindrical member to rotate the same in the said direction only, a device resisting rotation of said motion transmitting member in a direction counter to said predetermined direction, a

' wheel rotatable about said-revoluble cylindrical member, a coil spring about said cyl1ndr1cal member with one end portion coupled to saidwheel and its other end por-' tion movable with said motion transmitting member to impel said wheel to rotate in the said direction as said cylindrical member is moved by said motion 'transmitting member, a device for .im arting movement "of said. wheel in the sai direction to said oyli'ndrica'l member, and. mechanism for "resisting quick movement of said wheel.

5. 11 control mechanism for electric switches of the character described, the

combination of a revoluble cylindrical member adapted for connection with-the switch and provided with two sets of circumferentially disposed ratchet teeth, a knob, a motion transmitting member co-axial with said cylindrical member and operatively connected with said knob to be rotated by its movement in a predetermined direction, a pawl carried by said motion transmitting member and cooperating with one of the said sets of teeth of said cylindrical member to rotate the same in said direction only, a device resisting rotation of said motion transmitting member in a'direction counter to said predetermined direction, a 'Wheel rotatable about said cylindrical member, a coil spring about said cylindrical member with one end portion coupled to said Wheel and its other end portion movable with said motion transmitting member to impel said Wheel to rotate in the same direction as said cylindrical member is moved by said mo-.

tion transmitting member, a pawl carried by said Wheel and cooperating with the other of said sets of ratchet teeth of said cylindrical member to impart the said move ment of said Wheel to said cylindrical member, and mechanism for' resisting quick movement of said Wheel.

GEORGE M. BACON. 

